Thanks to all of our customers in 2009 for making this last year extra special.  We have many treats in store for 2010 including the commencement of a brand new book title that is still under development.  I’m sure many of the pet characters from last year and indeed this coming year will feature in this forthcoming book.  Thanks to all of those people that attended our courses in 2009, we hope you all now have as much fun in creating original pet images as we do and we look forward to the courses being held next year both in Ayrshire and Italy.  Best regards,  Paul Walker

New Year message

These three Bencal cats from Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, kept me amused for a good hour.  It was a constant game of hide and seek and then pounce on whichever cat moved within the targetted striking zone.  In the interests of my own hands and fingers, I left the antics and their play fighting to the trio!  I did wonder how the three of them were going to pose for the camera in between games.  Fortunately, the game plan devised worked and the three Bengals are shown below.

Bengal cat imageCat photography

Cat photographer

Cats can be tricky to photograph at the best of times, in the great outdoors it can be even more difficult and it’s a case of being ready for the moment when presented.  I was recently on another assignment when this particular curious cat came into the scene and stared briefly for a second before moving on again.  Where he was going next is anybody’s guess.

Now back safely from the USA pet photography training course that I was running just outside New York, thanks to the hosts, the pets and the attendees.  Where I was staying there was also another amazing character named “Heathrow”, an old English Springer Spaniel with a young heart!  I was mesmerised by this dog, for instance at 4 pm every day, he’d make his way across to the house behind where “grandma” lived.  So what happens at 4 pm you may ask, well that is when the peanuts and wine come out!  Not a dog to miss his daily intake of peanuts he would make the short journey, and then bark to be let in.  The owner of the inn, a lovely lady called Nancy would also ask “Heathrow” about his girlfriend and it was like having a conversation with him as the dog would make his own familiar noises.  I’m in the process of uploading this short video footage so that you can see for yourself !  The first day was also spent with “Frank” and his cat “Dino” – what an experiece.  When the cat decided it was time for Frank to leave he’d jump on the owner and paw his face gently.  Thanks to Vivian at Space for all the behind the scenes organisation, Jenni and Ulysses for their part in the whole event and to my family for keeping the ship sailing whilst away!

I’d been promised an appointment with Mr Tiggs for some time, a lazy cat from Kilmarnock that spends most of his time sleeping around and sunning himself when the opportunity arises. Upon arrival, I soon tracked him down lazing about upstairs. He was a little curious as to who I was and did show me a little attention, probably because it was near his feeding time. Well Mr Tiggs, you’re certainly a cat I shall remember for a long time.

Well, cats can be found in the most unusual hiding places, yet on this particular shoot they were no were to be seen.  The dogs were photographed first yet on the “circuit”, the first cat was spotted on his mouse watching post.  He apparently sits on this perch for many an hour just waiting to pounce on the next mouse.  I did distract him briefly for the shot seen.  Upon returning to the house, the second cat made an appearance, spying on me from some distant height!

Millie, the black cat certainly knows the hiding places at this flat in Glasgow.  Not mouse-watching, and hopefully not pouncing on the photographer!